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(1&6 Models) P. E. GONON ENVELOPE FASTENER- No. 513,568. Patented 'Jan. 30, 1894.

' WITNESSES: i INVENTOH y a M2 WM 5 M BY ATTORNEYS,

STAES PAUL E. GON ON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ENVELOPE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,568, dated January 30, 1894.

Application filed February 24, 1893. Serial No. 463,605. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PAUL E. GONON, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Envelope-Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved envelope fastener which is simple and durable in construction, cheaply ro manufactured, and arranged to securely and conveniently fasten the flap to the back of the envelope without using an adhesive substance.

The invention consists of an arm attached to the envelope flap and adapted to engage, at its free ends, apertures in the back of the envelope, the distance between the apertures being less than the aggregate distance between the ends of the arm.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying 2 drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is'a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modified form of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another modified form of the improvement, showing the flap in an open position; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a further modified form of the same with the flap closed.

The improved envelope fastener is provided with an arm A, preferably made of metal, Wood or other like material and fastened to the end of the flap B, either by wrapping the end around the arm, so that its ends extend beyond the sides of the flap, as shown in Fig. 1, or the arm can be attached by an eyelet to the flap, as shown in Figs. 2 and i, or the arm may be attached to a second arm fastened by an eyelet to the flap, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The ends of the arm A are adapted toengage apertures 0 formed in the back D of the envelope, the said apertures being in alignment with the arm A, when the flap B is folded over the back D, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4..

In order to engage the projecting ends of the arm A with the aperture 0, the operator slightly bends thearm so that the ends pass into the apertures or slots 0, and then by releasing the arm to permit the latter to as- 5 5 sume its natural straight position the ends of the arm pass through the slots to the back of the envelope, thus securely locking the flap B to the back of the envelope.

Instead of merely cutting apertures or slits O in the back D of the envelope, 1 may provide the back with eyelets, as shown in Figs.

2, 3 and 4:, the ends of the arms then being passed through the said eyelets to lock the flap to the back of the envelope.

In unlocking the flap the operator pries under the arm A at or near the middle thereof, so as to slightly bend the arm A to draw the ends of the arm out of the apertures or eyelets. 0

An envelope fastener constructed in the manner described permits of readily locking the flap to the back of the envelope without the use of any adhesive substance.

It is understood that the distance between 7 the apertures O is somewhat less than the length of the arm A, so as to permit the ends of the latter to pass to the rear side of the back after the ends have entered the apertures at the time the arm is permitted to So spring back to its normal position.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An envelope fastener provided with a separate straight elastic arm attached to the envelope flap, the said arm, when bent, being adapted to engage, at its ends, apertures provided in the back of the envelope, and then, when released, enter the envelope by its elas- 9o ticity, whereby the flap is locked to the back of the envelope, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an envelope provided in its back with apertures, of a separate straight elastic arm attached to the free 5 end of the envelope flap and projecting with its ends on both sides thereof, the said arm, when bent, being adapted to engage, atyits ends, the apertures provided in the back of the envelope, and then, when released, enter we the envelope by its elasticity, whereby the flap is locked to the back of the envelope, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with an envelope and eyelets securedto the back thereof, of aseparate straight elastic arm secured to: theen: velope flap and projecting with its ends on both sides thereof, the said arm, when bent, being adapted to engage, at its ends, the eye lets secured to the back oftheenvelope, andv then, when released, enter the envelope by its elasticity, whereby the flap is locked to the back of the envelope, substantiallyas de scribed.

4. The combination, with amenvelope and eyelets securedltothe backrthereof, ,of an arm fastened to the free end of the envelope flap,

astraight, elastic arm attached to the said armand projecting with its ends on both sides of the flap, the said flexible arm when bent, being adapted to engage at its ends, the eyelets secured to the back of the envelope, and then when released enter the envelope by its elasticity, whereby the flap is locked to the back of the envelope, substantially as de- PAUL E. GONON.

, scribed.

Witnesses:

THEO. G Hosrnn, C. SEneWIcK, 

